Carpet-edge binding means



June 7, 1966 J, BRUNN E 3,254,361

CARPET-EDGE BINDING MEANS Filed NOV. 16, 1964 22 GP 6 g 142 20.2 Q0 0PINVENTORS ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,254,361 CARPET-EDGE BINDINGMEANS John llrunn and Eugene J. Craven, Newnan, Ga., and Denis Muir, SanFrancisco, Calif., assignors to The William L. Bonnell Company, Inc.,Newnan, Ga., a corporation of Georgia Filed Nov. '16, 1964, Ser. No.411,510 7 Claims. (Cl. 16-16) This invention relates to improvements incarpetedge binding means, and more particularly to improved metalstrip-type carpet-edge binding means for protecting the raw or cut edgesof carpeting along exposed length portions thereof which are subject towear and/or along seams between adjacent pieces of laid carpeting.

While metal strip-type carpet edge binding means for protecting theexposed edges of wall-to-wall carpeting extending across door openings,entrance-ways, etc., and to a lesser extent for providing ametal-protected seam between the adjacent edges of two pieces ofcarpeting are well known, such more or less consistently incorporate anoverhanging clamping flange integral with the base piece or stripthereof usually provided with struck-out carpet-edge impaling prongs orcarrying a so-called tack strip provided with pins acting similarly asthe impaling prongs, which must be hammered down from its normallyraised position with respect to the base strip to a lowered position inwhich it binds the carpet edge and secures it to said base strip.

Since such carpet-edge binding means are conventionally applied toexposed edges of the carpeting, as distinguished from the edges of thecarpeting which extend along the corners between floor and room walls,it has become standard practice to provide at least the upper externalsurface of the aforesaid clamping flange with ornamentation of a typeapplied either' by chemical treatment of the entire strip, i.e. basepiece and clamping flange or mechanically as by hammering or ripplingthe upper surface of said flange by mechanical means. In either case,ornamentation of the binder strip is rendered difficult by virtue of itsoverall configuration, and furthermore, the requirement forornamentation imposes on the distributor or carpet installer the need tostock a large inventory of the differently surfaced binding strips, thusto be able to supply a binding strip having the surface ornamentationdesired for 'or considered to be best suited to a particular carpetinstallation.

Another disadvantage of the metal strip-type of carpetedge binding meansas heretofore commonly used is that the hammering down of the clampingflange thereof to its final position must be done expertly, sinceotherwise irregularity of the upper surface of the flange may result andthe hammering-down operation may also mar the ornamental finish appliedto its external surface as aforesaid.

Stated broadly, a major object of the present invention is the provisionof metal strip-typecarpet edge binding means which overcomes in largemeasure the abovenoted objections to the conventional metal strip-typecarpet edge binding means employing the so-called hammeror tap-downintegral clamping flange.

More particularly, the invention contemplates and aims to provide asimple, dependable and thoroughly practical metal strip-type carpet edgebinding means which substitutes for the hammeror tap-down clampingflange a snap-on cap strip capable of being assembled to the base pieceor strip thereof by being very simply snapped in place thereon and ofbeing equally readily disassembled therefrom, for example when thecarpet requires restretching and/or is taken up for cleaning or forreplacement without complete removal of the entire strip, as isnecessary with the prior hammeror tap-down types of metallic carpet edgebinder strips.

3,254,361 Patented June 7, 1966 Another important object of theinvention is the provision of metal strip-type carpet edge binding meansemploying a snap-on cap strip in place of the conventiona integralclamping flange which must be hammered dowr to assume its clampingposition as aforesaid, which is o: advantage to the distributor and/orcarpet installer ii that the latter is required to stock but onestandard bZlSt strip shape having an inexpensive mill finish for alltilt kinds and finishes of separate cap strips which he migh be calledupon to supply, with assurance that any de sired one of said separatecap strips may be assembled t( a standard base piece by being simplysnapped there onto by the installer during the carpeting installation.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision o a metalstrip-type of carpet edge binding means character ized by a snap-on capstrip serving to clamp the raw 0 cut edge of the carpet against a basepiece or strip characterized in that the assembly of cap strip to hasstrip may be achieved both in a simple operation and i1 manner as toinsure uniformity of positioning of th assembled cap strip throughoutits full length, and with out danger of its ornamental finsh [beingmarred or other wise impaired.

The above and other objects and features of advantag of an improvedmetal strip-type carpet edge bindin means according to the presentinvention will appea from the following more detailed descriptionthereot wherein reference is had to the accompanying illustrativdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a section taken through a single-edge met: strip-type carpetedge binding means of the inventiot which further shows the clampingaction exercised by th snap-on cap strip on the raw or cut edge of apiece c carpeting to which it is applied;

FIG. 2 is a similar section but showing the snap-o cap strip feature ofthe invention applied to a double edge carpet binder, such 'as is usedin providing a prc tected seam between the adjacent edges of two piecesc carpeting; and

FIG. 3 is a broken-away exploded view in perspectiv of the double-edgecarpet binder illustrated in FIG. 1

Referring to the drawings in detail, and first to FIG. which illustratesa metal strip-type single-edge carpet edg binder according to theinvention, such comprises thre parts, each capable of separatefabrication and of help separately stocked and/or inventoried, namely, along tudinal metal base piece or strip 10, a longitudinal woode tackstrip 20, and a longitudinal cap strip 30. M01 particularly, the basestrip 10 which has substantial widt is provided along but at apredetermined spaced distant from one (its relatively outer) edge withan integr: upright rib 12 of substantial height and which in tran versesection is preferably shaped as a double-lobed -headed fastener stud,whose two fastener heads dispose one above the other are designated 14a,14b; with a long tudinal small-height abutment or locating rib 16 projecing from its upper face and being spaced a predetermine short distancefrom said first-named rib 12 towards ti other (realtively inner) edge ofsaid base strip; and fu ther with a thin-walled portion 18 disposedinwardly said locating rib which facilitates the base strip beir nailedto the flooring or other foundation on which ti carpet whose edge is tobe bound is to be placed, 1 by nails 40. For a purpose to be laterexplained, tl spacing of the stud-forming rib 12 from the outer (righside, FIG. 1) edge of the base strip 10 is substantial equal to thespacing of the short-height locating rib 1 from said rib 12. Thus, saidouter edge is also capab of functioning as a locating edge, to the samedegree 1 said rib 16.

The tack strip 20 is of conventional construction, beir made of alongitudinal strip of wood carrying a plurali of steel carpet-edgeimpaling pins or tacks 22 which are inclined from the vertical.Preferably, the tack strip 20 is located by abutting the side edgethereof towards which the impaling pins incline against the small-heightrib 16, and it is then secured to the base strip and flooring by thesame nails 40 which secured the base strip to said flooring.

The cap strip 30 which is shown to have arcuate shape in transversesection is provided on its under side with a longitudinally extending,downwardly opening socket defined by substantially parallel, springyspaced walls 32a, 32b which depend from the under surface of saidarcuate strip and terminate in inturned edges 34a, 34b. As seen in FIG.1, the spaced walls defining the socket proper are spaced apart adistance slightly greater than the width of the fastener heads 14a, 14bof the upright stud or rib 12, whereas their inturned lower edges arespaced apart a distance less than said head width, thus in effectdefining a restricted mouth opening to the socket interior. Of course,the vertical dimension (depth) of the longitudinal socket will by designbe greater than the headed portion of said rib 12, so that the latter isreadily accommodated within the depth dimension of the socket. Thus, thecap strip 30 may readily be secured to the stud-like rib 12 by pressingsaid cap strip down over the rib, during the course of which the spacedside walls 32a, 32b of the cap-strip socket spread apart sufiiciently topermit entry of one or both of the stud-like heads 14a, .14b of the rib12 into the socket, whereupon the lower intumed edges of said wallsclose against the under c'urved surfaces of the fastener head or heads,thus to firmly secure the cap strip to the base strip 10.

It will also be observed that the total width of the cap strip 30 issuch that, when finally assembled to the base strip 10, its relativelyinner edge a extends towards and is spaced but a small distance from theupper corner of the wood tack strip located by the base strip rib 16,and that its relatively outer edge b will engage against thecorresponding outer edge of said base strip. This latter engagement ismade possible by forming said capstrip with an outer-edge dependingskirt portion dimensioned to extend to the flooring just outwardly ofsaid base-strip outer edge.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, such views together show the carryingforward of the underlying principle of the single-edge type ofcarpet-edge binding means just described to a double-edge binder, thatis, one serving to bind the adjacent edges of two separate pieces ofcarpeting in manner as to provide in effect a metal strip-type seamconnecting said edges. Such a double-edge binder preferably employs abase strip which is identical in all respects to the base strip 10employed in the single-edge binder shown in FIG. 1 and hence said basestrip shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is identified by the same referencenumerals as previously employed. Although employing two tack stripsrather than one, as in FIG. 1, the tack strip of the FIGS. 2 and 3 formare also identical to that designated 20 in FIG. 1, but with one beingturned about with realtion to the other. Said two tack strips aredesignated 20r and 201, thus to indicate rightand left-hand stripdisposition. At this point, however, it is to be observed that whereasthe lefthand tack strip 201 rests on the left-side edge-portion of thebase strip 10, and is located by the small-height rib 16 of the basestrip, the righthand tack strip 20r rests directly on the flooring, andit is located by its being brought into abutting engagement with theright-side edge of said base strip, and finally is nailed directly tosaid flooring by nails 40a corresponding to but additional to said nails40 which secure the left-side tack strip 201. By the aforesaidarrangement, the rightand left-hand tack strips 20r and 201 assumesubstantially identical positions to the sides of the central verticalplane of the upright stud-forming rib 12 of the base strip 10.

However, the cap-strip designated 60 of the FIGS. 2

and 3 form of double-edge binder differs from the capstrip 30 in that itis curved uniformly and symmetrically to the sides of its longitudinalcenter line, whereby its side edges 0 and d terminate in the samehorizontal plane which is raised from that of the base strip proper andare furthermore spaced slightly laterally from the upper corners of theside edges of the tack strips 20r and 20! towards which said edgesextend. Otherwise, the cap strip is structurally similar to the capstrip 30, particularly as respects being provided on its under side witha longitudinal socket defined by parallel vertical walls 62a, 62b forthe reception of the fastener-head portion of the base-strip rib 12.

While it is believed that the manner of installation and operation ofboth of the illustrated forms of metal strip-type carpet edge bindingmeans as described and illustrated will be understood by those skilledin the art,, it is explained that placement and assembly of the FIG. 1form of binding means involves simply laying the base strip 10 with tackstrip 20 superimposed thereon along the length of the edge of thecarpeting CF to be secured, then nailing both the base and tack stripsto the flooring, then securing the carpet edge to the impaling pins 22carried by the tack strip with the requisite degree of carpet stretchingor tautening as results in the carpet edge extending downwardly over theupper corner of the side of the tack strip which is disposed towards therib 1 2, and finally pressing t'he'ca'p-strip 30 down onto said rib, asresults through the conjoint action of socket and fastener-studformation of the upper end of said rib, not

only in the cap strip being firmly held to said base strip: but also inthe relatively inner edge a of the cap stripf exercising a degree ofclamping action on the down-; turned edge of the carpet which extendsinto the space masking of the base strip by both the secured carpet edgeand the cap strip is complete.

To place and assemble the double-edge carpet; edge binder according tothe FIGS. 2 and 3 form, the base strip 10 and leftand right-hand tackstrips 201 and 20r are placed at the location or line of the intendedseam and thereupon secured to the flooring in the manner shown by thenails 40, 40a driven through said tack strips. Then the adjacent edgesof the two pieces of the carpeting CF to be seamed are impaled on thepins 22 of the tack strips as shown, that is, with the terminal edgeportions of the carpeting extending downwardly over the upper corners ofthe tack strips nearest the stud-forming rib 12. In a final operation,the cap strip 60 is forcibly pressed down onto said rib 12, whichoperation not only secures the cap-strip to the rib but also exercises adegree of clamping action on the portions of the carpet edges whichoverhang said inner-side upper corners of the tack strips. As with theFIG. 1 form, final securement of the cap-strip 60 completely masks thesecured adjacent edges of the carpeting and the base strip, since onlythe upper surface of the cap strip is exposed.

Although not previously mentioned, it will be understood that thecarpeting whose edges are to be bound or seamed is usually provided witha backing or padding designated P in FIGS. 1 and 3, which is to be cutby the installer so that its edge will closely abut the substantiallycommon inner edges of the tack and base strips of the FIG. 1 form andboth corresponding edges and also the relatively outer edge of theright-hand tack strip 20r of an effective means of protectively bindingthe raw or cut portions of laid carpeting to which it is assembled makespossible, for the first time, the realization of a standard base stripand indeed a standard tack strip suitable to both single-edge anddouble-edge binders, and further suit-able to snap-on cap strips ofditferent materials, shapes and finishes. As previously explained, thisis of advantage in enabling a distributor or installer to stock suchstandard base and tack strips in quantity and separately to inventoryonly as many cap strips of the finish and type, i.e. singleordouble-edge type, which he considers best suited to his particulartrade, and which of course may range from a small line of finishes to anextensive line thereof. 7

Another important and highly practical feature of the snap-on cap-striptype of carpet-edge binding means of the present invention is that itpermits simple disassembly of the cap-strip from the base strip when,for example, it is desired to restretch the carpet whose edge it servesto protect, or to take up the carpet for cleaning or replacement,without any requirement of completely removing the entirebinder strip,as is necessary with the metallic carpet-edge binding strip employingthe hammer-down gripping flange. The ability to disassemble the capstrip from the base strip as aforesaid is also advantageous when it isdesired to interchange a cap strip of one finish for a cap strip ofanother finish, without complete replacement of the binding means as awhole. The aforesaid cap-strip disassembly feature'is of course madepossible by the inherent resiliency of the spaced socket side-walls 32a,32b which enables them to spread as the cap strip is being disassembled,just as they spread when said cap strip is being assembled to the basestrip.

As many changes could be made in carrying out the above constructionswithout departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended thatall matter contained in the above description or shown in theacompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

We claim: 1

1. A metal strip-type carpet edge binding means comprising, incombination: a longitudinal base strip adapted to be nailed to flooring,carpet-edge impaling means superposed on and secured to the base stripalong one longitudinal edge thereof, said impaling means comprising alongitudinal wood strip carrying carpet impaling pins, means on saidbase strip for locating said wood strip and thereby its relatively innerlongitudinal edge in a fixed lateral position on said base strip, -alongitudinal cap strip overlying the base strip laterally of said woodstrip, complemental stud and socket means for effecting snap-onsecurement of the cap strip to the base strip along a line which isspaced substantially equally from said wood strip locating means and theedge of the base strip opposite that along which said wood stripextends, said cap strip havingwidth such that its longitudinal side edgewhich is disposed adjacent the wood strip and said inner longitudinaledge of said strip coact with one another in providing means forclamping an edge portion of a piece of carpet which is extended over andbeyond said wood strip and thence beneath the cap strip.

2. A metal strip-type edge binding means according to claim 1, andfurther including a second carpet-edge impaling means secured directlyto the flooring in abutting relation to said opposite edge of the basestrip whereby said opposite edge serves as a locating means therefor,said second impaling means comprising a longitudinal wood strip carryingcarpet impaling pins and the relatively inner edge of the wood strip ofsaid second impaling means and the edge of the cap strip disposedadjacent same also coacting with one another in providing means forclamping an edge portion of a second piece of carpet which is extendedover and beyond said wood strip of the second impaling means and thencebeneath said cap strip.

3. A metal strip-type carpet edge binding means comprising, incombination: a longitudinal base strip adapted to be nailed to flooring,a longitudinal cap-strip therefor, cooperative means on said base andcap-strips for effecting snap-on securement of the cap-strip to the basestrip including an upright rib integral with the base strip and whoseupper end portion is shaped in transverse section as a fastener stud andlongitudinally extending socket means depending integrally from theunder side of said cap-strip and adapted to receive and detachablysecure to said rib responsive to said cap-strip being presseddownwardly'thereon, said rib being spaced a predetermined distanceinwardly from one side edge of the base strip, a longitudinal,short-height integral locating rib extending from the upper face of thebase strip and being spaced inwardly from said cap securing rib byapproximately the same amount that said cap-securing rib is spaced fromsaid one side edge of the base strip, and carpet-edge impaling meanscomprising a longitudinal wood strip carrying carpet-edge impaling pinssuperposed on and secured to the opposite side edge portion of said basestrip and being located in fixed lateral position thereon by saidintegral locating rib, the secured edge of the carpet adapted to extendover the relatively inner-edge upper corner of said wood strip andthence downwardly toward said cap-securing rib, the relatively inneredgeof the cap strip extending over and exercising a degree of clampingaction on said downwardly extending edge of the carpet, the relativelyouter edge of said cap strip having an arcuate skirt portion of lengthas to extend outwardly over said one edge of the base strip to saidflooring.

4. A metal strip-type carpet edge binding means comprising, incombination: a longitudinal base strip adapted to be nailed to flooring,a longitudinal cap strip therefor, cooperative means on said base andcap strips for effecting snap-on securement of the cap strip to the basestrip including an upright rib integral with the base strip and whoseupper end portion is shaped in transverse section as a fastener stud andlongitudinally extending socket means depending integrally from theunder side of said cap strip and adapted to receive and detachablysecure to said rib responsive to said cap strip being pressed downwardlythereon, said rib being spaced a predetermined distance inwardly fromone side edge of the base strip, a longitudinal, short-height integrallocating rib extending from the upper face of the base strip and beingspaced inwardly from said cap securing rib by approximately the sameamount that said cap-securing rib is spaced from said one side edge ofthe base strip, and carpet-edge impaling means comprising a pair oflongitudinal wood strips carrying carpet edge impaling pins for securingthe adjacent edges of two pieces of carpeting, one strip beingsuperposed on and secured to the opposite side edge portion of the basestrip and being located in fixed lateral position thereon-by saidintegral locating rib, the other wood strip being disposed on andsecured directly to said flooring and in abutting relation to said oneedge of the base piece serving as a locating means therefor, theadjacent edges of the two pieces of carpet extending over therelativelyinner-edge upper corners of the respective wooden strips anddownwardly towards the cap-securing rib, said cap strip having curvatureand width such that their opposite side edges exercise a degree ofclamping action on said downwardly extending edges of said pieces ofcarpet.

5. A metal strip-type carpet edge binding means accordingto claim 3,wherein said one edge of said cap strip clamps the edge of the carpetingagainst said upper corner of the wood strip.

6. A metal strip-type carpet edge binding means according to claim 4,wherein the side edges of said cap strip clamp the adjacent edges of thecarpeting against the relatively upper corners of the wood strip overwhich said carpeting edges extend.

7. In a metal strip-type carpet edge binding means, a base strip adaptedto be nailed to flooring and to which at least one edge of a piece ofcarpeting is to be secured and being adapted to mount carpet edgecovering means, said base strip comprising an elongated strip memberhaving appreciable width, an elongated integral upright rib on saidstrip having substantial height and whose upper end portion is shaped intransverse section as a fastener stud, said rib being spaced apredetermined distance from one side edge of said strip member, anelongate short-height integral rib extending upwardly from said basestrip and being spaced inwardly from said first-named rib byapproximately the same amount that said latter rib is spaced from saidone side edge of the strip member, whereby said short-height rib andsaid one side edge of the strip member are adapted to serve aslongitudinal spacing edges which are spaced equal dis tances to thesides of said first-named rib.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,487,571 11/1949Maxwell 167 2,942,289 6/1960 Linsky 16-5 FOREIGN PATENTS 623,055 5/1949Great Britain.

JOSEPH D. SEERS, Primary Examiner.

ALBERT H. KAMPE, D. L. BURGESS,

Assistant Examiners

1. A METAL STRIP-TYPE CARPET EDGE BINDING MEANS CONPRISING, INCOMBINATION: A LONGITUDINAL BASE STRIP ADAPTED TO BE NAILED TO FLOORING,CARPET-EDGE IMPARTING MEANS SUPERPPOSED ON AND SECURED TO THE BASE ALONGONE LONGITUDINAL EDGE THEREOF, IMPALING MEANS COMPRISING A LONGITUDINALWOOD STRIP CARRYING CARPET IMPALING PINS, MEANS ON SAID BASE STRIP FORLOCATING SAID WOOD STRIP AND THEREBY ITS RELATIVELY INNER LONGITUDINALEDGE IN A FIXED LATERAL POSITION ON SAID BASE STRIP, A LONGITUDINAL CAPSTRIP OVERLYING THE BASE STRIP LATERALLY OF SAID WOOD STRIP,COMPLEMENTAL STUD AND SOCKET MEANS FOR EFFECTING SNAP-ON SECUREMENT OFTHE CAP STRIP TO THE BASE STRIP ALONG A LINE WHICH IS SPACEDSUBSTANTIALLY EQUALLY FROM SAID WOOD STRIP LOCATING MEANS AND THE EDGEOF THE BASE STRIP OPPOSITE THAT ALONG WHICH SAID WOOD STRIP EXTENDS,SAID CAP STRIP HAVING WIDTH SUCH THAT ITS LONGITUDINAL SIDE EDGE WHICHIS DISPOSED ADJACENT THE WOOD STRIP AND SAID INNER LONGITUDINAL EDGE OFSAID STRIP COACT WITH ONE ANOTHER IN PROVIDING MEANS FOR CLAMPING ANEDGE PORTION OF A PIECE OF CARPET WHICH IS EXTENDED OVER AND BEYOND SAIDWOOD STRIP AND THENCE BENEATH THE CAP STRIP.